Introduction
Easter is a time for new beginnings, spring flowers, and delicious food! In Italy, Easter is celebrated with a traditional cake that has been passed down through families for generations. This Italian Easter cake recipe is a sweet treat that is perfect for sharing with friends and family during the holiday season. In this blog post, we’ll be sharing two different recipes for this delicious cake, along with tips and tricks for making it perfectly every time.
Recipe 1: Traditional Italian Easter Cake Recipe
Ingredients:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 4 eggs
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup chopped candied orange peel
- 1/2 cup chopped candied lemon peel
- 1/2 cup chopped almonds
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a mixing bowl, cream together the sugar and softened butter until light and fluffy.
- Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
- In a separate bowl, mix together the flour and baking powder.
- Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, alternating with the milk and vanilla extract, until fully combined.
- Stir in the candied orange and lemon peel, along with the chopped almonds.
- Pour the batter into a greased and floured 9-inch (23 cm) cake pan.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before serving.
Nutritional Information:
This recipe makes 12 servings. Each serving contains:
- Calories: 412
- Total fat: 22g
- Saturated fat: 11g
- Cholesterol: 97mg
- Sodium: 54mg
- Total carbohydrates: 48g
- Dietary fiber: 1g
- Sugars: 25g
- Protein: 7g
Cooking Time:
This Italian Easter cake recipe takes approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes to make, including prep time and baking time.
Equipment:
- Mixing bowl
- Mixing spoon or electric mixer
- 9-inch (23 cm) cake pan
- Wire rack
Serving Suggestions:
This Italian Easter cake recipe is best served with a cup of coffee or tea. You can also dust the top with powdered sugar for a touch of sweetness.
Variations:
If you don’t have candied orange or lemon peel, you can substitute with dried fruit, such as raisins, cranberries, or apricots. You can also swap out the almonds for another type of nut, such as hazelnuts or walnuts.
Substitutions:
If you prefer a dairy-free version of this Italian Easter cake recipe, you can substitute the butter with coconut oil or vegan margarine, and the milk with almond milk or soy milk.
Storage:
This Italian Easter cake recipe can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. Alternatively, you can freeze the cake for up to 3 months.
Tips:
Make sure to grease and flour your cake pan well to prevent the cake from sticking. You can also line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper to make it easier to remove the cake.
Notes:
This Italian Easter cake recipe is also known as “torta pasqualina” in Italian.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is Italian Easter cake? Italian Easter cake is a sweet cake that is traditionally made during the Easter holiday in Italy. It is typically made with candied citrus peel and almonds, and is often served with coffee or tea. Can I make Italian Easter cake ahead of time? Yes, you can make Italian Easter cake ahead of time and store it in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. Alternatively, you can freeze the cake for up to 3 months.
Recipe 2: Chocolate Italian Easter Cake Recipe
Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 3 eggs
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup chopped hazelnuts
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a mixing bowl, cream together the sugar and softened butter until light and fluffy.
- Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
- In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, cocoa powder, and baking powder.
- Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, alternating with the milk and vanilla extract, until fully combined.
- Stir in the chopped hazelnuts.
- Pour the batter into a greased and floured 9-inch (23 cm) cake pan.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before serving.
Nutritional Information:
This recipe makes 12 servings. Each serving contains:
- Calories: 312
- Total fat: 14g
- Saturated fat: 7g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
- Sodium: 33mg
- Total carbohydrates: 43g
- Dietary fiber: 2g
- Sugars: 24g
- Protein: 6g
Cooking Time:
This chocolate Italian Easter cake recipe takes approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes to make, including prep time and baking time.
Equipment:
- Mixing bowl
- Mixing spoon or electric mixer
- 9-inch (23 cm) cake pan
- Wire rack
Serving Suggestions:
This chocolate Italian Easter cake recipe is best served with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
Variations:
If you don’t have hazelnuts, you can substitute with another type of nut, such as almonds, walnuts, or pecans.
Substitutions:
If you prefer a dairy-free version of this chocolate Italian Easter cake recipe, you can substitute the butter with coconut oil or vegan margarine, and the milk with almond milk or soy milk.
Storage:
This chocolate Italian Easter cake recipe can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. Alternatively, you can freeze the cake for up to 3 months.
Tips:
Make sure to grease and flour your cake pan well to prevent the cake from sticking. You can also line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper to make it easier to remove the cake.
Notes:
This chocolate Italian Easter cake recipe is a delicious twist on the traditional recipe, and is perfect for chocolate lovers.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is chocolate Italian Easter cake? Chocolate Italian Easter cake is a sweet cake that is traditionally made during the Easter holiday in Italy. It is typically made with nuts and cocoa powder, and is often served with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. Can I make chocolate Italian Easter cake ahead of time? Yes, you can make chocolate Italian Easter cake ahead of time and store it in an airtight container at room temperature for